Air eliminator for nursing bottles



c. c. WILKINSON ETAL 3,059,797

2 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 23, 1962 AIR ELIMINATOR FOR NURSING BOTTLES Filed Aug. 15, 1961 0ct. 23, 1962 c, c. WILKINSON ET AL 3,059,797

AIR ELIMINATOR FOR NUR SING BOTTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l5, 1961 INVENTORS Ziff ` nie im@ The present invention `relates to a nursing bottle or baby bottle and more particularly to `a means for preventing substantially any air from entering the mouth of the baby during feeding from the bottle.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a mechanism which is adapted to ybe used with a conventional baby hottie wherein as the baby drinks milk from the bottie, air will be kept from the babys mouth so that discomfort to the baby will be minimized or prevented, as for example when such a discomfort usually results from the baby taking in air during feeding from a nursing bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nursing bottle air eliminator which will effectively prevent air from being drawn or sucked into the babys mouth during feeding from the nursing bottle, and wherein the mechanism or air eliminator of the present invention will effectively function regardless of the tilted position or other position that the bottle may be in, and wherein the air eliminator of the present invention can be used over and over again on subsequent bottles, the air eliminator of the present invention being constructed so that the same can be readily cleaned after it has been used.

Still another object is to provide such an air eliminator for a nursing bottle, wherein the air eliminator is economical to manufacture and eicient in operation, and wherein the same is rugged in structure and foolproof in operation.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character described that is economical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the most economical use of material and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View taken through a nursing bottle equipped with the air eliminator of the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section, and showing the bottle without liquid therein and showing the position of the parts when the ybottle is not being used.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 3 is a view generally `similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the bottle tilted from the position of FIG- URE 1 and showing iiuid or liquid in the bottle wherein the bottle is tilted in an upward inclined position.

FIGURE 4 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the bottle tilted downwardly and illustrating the action of the parts.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken Von the line 5-5 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale, with parts broken way and in section, showing certain constructional details of the feeder tube and its associated parts.

FIGURE S is a perspective View of the suction sealer or gasket.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged elevational view, with parts 3,959,797 Patented Get. 23, 1952 ice broken away and in section, showing certain constructional details of one of the valve assemblies and its associated parts.

FIGURE 10 is an inner safe view or sectional view showing certain constructional `details of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 2) indicates a nursing bottle or baby bottle which includes a main body portion 21 as well as a reduced diameter neck portion 22, and the numeral 23 indicates a cap which is arranged in threaded engagement with the neck portion Z2. As shown in the drawings, the cap 23 includes an annular side section Z4 as well as an end section 25, and the end section 25 is provided with a central opening 26 therein, FIGURE l. The numeral 27 indicates a nipple which includes a mouth engaging portion 28 which projects through the opening 26 in the end section 25, and the nipple 27 further includes a circular ilange or wall section 28 which is provided with a plurality of spaced apart vent openings or apertures 29 therein for a purpose to be later described.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a circular disc 30 which is interposed between the outer edge o the neck portion 22, and the ange 28, and the disc 36 has an intermediate thickened portion which denes a shoulder 31, and there is provided in the disc 3d a plurality of spaced apart apertures or openings 32 which are arranged adjacent the outer periphery of the shoulder 31. Due to the provision of the thickened portion or shoulder 31, there is provided an air space 35 between the ilange 23 and outer peripheral portion of the disc 30. The numeral 33 indicates a base piece which is arranged contiguous to the shoulder 31, and the base piece 33 is provided with a central passageway or opening 34 therein. The numeral 36 indicates flap valve which is connected to the outer end portion of the base piece 331.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a tubular shank 37 which extends inwardly from the disc 3G and which is secured thereto or formed integral therewith, and the numeral 38 indicates a tubular stem which extends through the shank 37, and the stem 38 also extends through the shoulder 31 and into engagement with the base piece 33, and the bore in the stem 38 registers with the aperture 34 in the base piece 33. The inner end of the stem 38 projects beyond the adjacent end portion of the shank 37, and the numeral 39 indicates a feeder tube which is swivelly or rotatably connected to the inner end portion of the stem 38 whereby due to the swivel mounting, the feeder tube 39 and its associated parts will automatically move to a lowermost position in the bottle 20 regardless of the position of the bottle. The feeder tube 39 includes a rst section 40 which swivelly engages the inner end portion of the stem 38, and the feeder tube 39 further includes a second portion or section 4-1 which is arranged angularly with respect to the iirst section 40, and the feeder tube 39 further includes a main straight or third section 42 which is olTset from and arranged angularly with respect to the second section 41.

The inner end of the feeder tube 39 is blocked or closed off as at 44, and the closed portion 44 has a arcuate surface 45, FIGURE 1, and this arcuate surface 45 is adapted to be used in facilitating the cleaning of the mechanism after the same has been used.

There is further provided a pair of generally similar spaced apart valve assemblies which are indicated generally by the numerals 46 and 47, and the valve assembly 46 includes a lug 54 that is secured to or formed integral with the feed tube section 42, and a stop portion 48 on the lug 54 is adapted to limit swinging movement of a oat 49 in one direction. The float 49 has secured thereto or formed integral therewith a pair of spaced parallel fingers 51 which are hingedly or pivotally mounted on a pin St that is connected to the lug 54. The pad 52 made of a suitable yieldable or resilient material such as rubber, plastic or the like is secured to the float 49, and the pad 52 is mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to a port or aperture 53 in the feeder tube section 42.

The valve assembly 47 is shown to comprise a lug 55 which has a stop portion 56 thereon for limiting swinging movement of a lloat member 57, and spaced parallel lingers 58 are aihxed to the float 57, and these fingers 58 are pivotally mounted on a pin 59 which is connected to the lug 55. A pad 60 of yieldable material is suitably secured to the float member 57, and the pad 60 is mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to the port or opening 61 in the feeder tube section 42.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an air eliminator for a nuring bottle, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that when no liquid or milk is in the bottle 20 the parts are in the position such as that shown in FIGURE l, and in FIGURE l the bottle 20 is shown resting on a supporting structure 62 which may be a table, bed or the like. In FIGURES 3 and 4, the numeral 63 indicates fluid or liquid such as milk arranged in the bottle 20.

With the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that with a quantity of the milk or other liquid 63 in the bottle 21D, when the bottle 20 is in the upward tilted position shown in FIGURE 3 for example, as a child is drinking the liquid from the bottle 20, the lowermost lloat 49 will pivot upwardly about an axis extending through the pin 6@ due to the buoyance of the hollow float 49 in the liquid 63. Since the iloat 57 iS above the level of the liquid 63, the pad 60 will be in closing relation with respect to the opening 61. However since the float 49 is buoyed up due to the fact that the iloat 49 is below the level of liquid 63, the pad 52 will be out of engagement with the opening 53 so that as the child sucks on the nipple 27, and the liquid 63 will be sucked in through the opening 53 and will flow through the tubular section 42 of the feeder tube 39, and this milk or other fluid will then flow through the section 41 and then through the section 40 and then through the stem 38, and then out through the aperture 34 and the ilap valve 36 will be opened due to the creation of the vacuum pressure by application of the childs mouth to the nipple 27. Thus the rnilk can flow out through the aperture 34 beyond the opened flap valve 36 and this milk or other fluid can then enter the nipple 27 and be taken into the childs mouth in the usual manner through the nipple 27. It will be seen that with the parts in the position of FIGURE 3 that since the opening 61 is closed by the pad 60, no air can enter the tube 39, and only liquid 63 can enter the tube through the opened port 53. Thus the child will be able to feed without taking any air into the mouth or body whereby there will be less likelihood of the child developing colic or other discomfortable reactions resulting from the intake of air during the feeding.

As shown in FIGURE 4 when the bottle 20 is used in a downwardly inclined position, the valves 46 and 47 assume a reversed position or operation as compared to the valves 46 and 47 in the position of FIGURE 3. That is with the parts in the position of FIGURE 4, the float 49 remains against or contiguous to the tube section 42 due to the action of gravity, whereby the pad 62 will be closed on the port 53. At the same time with the parts in the position of FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the float 57 is below the level of the iluid 63, while the float 49 is above the level of liquid or fluid 63. Thus, the float 57, being hollow, will have sufficient buoyancy to move to the raised position whereby the pad 60 will be away from the port 61 so that as the child sucks from the nipple the vacuum pressure will cause the liquid 63 to be dra-wn into the tube section 42 through the opened port 61 and this iluid or milk can then flow through the section 41 and then through the hollow stem 33 and then through the aperture 34 and then past the open flap valve 36 into the nipple and then into the childs mouth. Thus, with the parts in a position such as that shown in FIGURES 3 or 4, air will be prevented from entering the childs mouth.

The tlap valve 36 functions as a check valve so as to help prevent additional air from flowing beyond the check valve or flap valve 36, except when vacuum pressure is created by action of the child sucking on the nipple 27.

The stop portions 48 and 56 help limit pivotal movement of the floats 49 and 57 since when the floats move upwardly away from the feeder tube, they will eventually Contact a portion of the stop portions to prevent the floats from moving too far as they pivot.

Another important feature of the present invention is the swivel connection of the feeder tube section 40 on the inner projecting end of the stem 38 so that the feeder tube 39 is free to swivel or rotate about an axis extending through the stem 38. This construction is such that regardless of the position that the bottle 20 is held in, the feeder tube 39 and its Valves 46 and 47 will always have a tendency to move to the lowermost position in the bottle 20 whereby the parts will be properly positioned in order to function in the desired and required manner.

As the milk or other liquid 63 is withdrawn from the bottle by the childs feeding, some air can enter the bottle to take the place of the milk or other uid being removed, and this entering air can ilow in through the space 26, and then through the small aperture 29, and through the small aperture 32 so that there will be no interference with the required proper removal of the fluid from the bottle.

In addition the parts of the air eliminator of the present invention can be readily disassembled so as to facilitate cleaning thereof, and for example the base piece 33 can be removed and also stern 3S can be removed, and the feeder tube 39 can be disconnected from the stern 38. The cap 23 can be disconnected or unscrewed from the neck portion 22, and whereby the entire air eliminator mechanism can be removed from the bottle readily and conveniently in order to permit cleaning of the parts so that the device or mechanism can be used over and over again as desired or required. The sealer 43 provides an efficient seal or joint between the abutting ends of the section 40 and the shank 37, FIG- URE 7.

As shown in FIGURE 3, when a particular valve is above the level of liquid 63, the yieldable pad of the valve is in closing relation with respect to its corresponding port in the feeder tube so that air cannot enter the tube from that portion of the bottle above the level of liquid 63. The air valve assembly which is below the liquid level 63 will have its pad away from the adjacent port due to the buoyancy of the particular iloat below the level of liquid whereby fluid or liquid can enter the feeder tube, but air cannot enter the feeder tube. The provision of the pair of valve assemblies 46 and 47 therefore provides a means whereby air will be eliminated regardless of whether the bottle is tilted up or down or held in different angular positions by the child, and this is necessary because children or babies hold a bottle in many different positions during nursing or feeding from the bottle and the present invention thus provides a foolproof means for eliminating air regardless of the position of the bottle.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

The small clearance space provides a passageway whereby the entering air can flow through the aperture 29 and then into the passageway 35 and then enter the interior or the bottle through the opening or aperture 32.

Since this air can enter the interior of the bottle through these apertures, the contents of the bottle can be drawn out without leaving a vacuum in the bottle.

It is to be noted that there is provided a tapered surface adjacent the aperture or opening 53, and the purpose of the tapered surface 45 is to force the cleaning brush up through the feeder port 53 during the cleaning of the mechanism.

The lloats 49 and 57 are pivotally supported on the brackets or lugs 54 and 55 respectively. The base piece 33 functions as a retainer for the stem shaft.

With the present invention air will be eliminated or prevented from entering the babys mouth through the nipple since the ports are controlled by the fluid level coacting with the floats 49 and 57. If 'the nipple end of the bottle is higher than the bottom end of the bottle, any fluid will raise the float 49 and open the lower port 53. If the bottom of the bottle is raised above the nipple end as for example as shown in FIGURE 4, the iluid such as the fluid 63 will raise the float 57 and open the port 61. When there is no fluid to raise either float, both ports 53 and 61 will be closed permitting no flow of air to the nipple 27. The feeder stem or tube 39 is mounted so that it can pivot or swivel on the shaft or stem 38 so that gravity will keep the feeder tube in the lowermost position at all times regardless of the fluid level or position of the bottle. The sealer 43 shown in FIGURE 8 and in FIGURE 7 serves to prevent passage of air around the feeder tube end or stem shaft, and the sealer 43 has a beveled end which is arranged towards the section 40 to prevent passage of air from entering the nipple through the stem or other parts. As shown in .FIGURE 7 the feeder tube is countersunk as at 64, FIGURE 7, contiguous to the suction cup seal location as indicated by the numeral 43 to` keep Ithe cup 43 which is beveled towards the stem sleeve or feeder tube. The retainer 33 helps hold the shaft or stem 38 in position and also the retainer or base piece 33 provides a support for the flapper valve 66 which prevents feed back of iluid to the bottle. A seal is provided for preventing vented air from reaching the inner part of the nipple. Cleaning is readily accomplished by the removing the retainer 33 and then disassembling the parts, and an eXtra length pipe cleaner or other suitable brush can be inserted at the end of the feeder tube assembly and pushed completely through and removed at the lower port 53. The floats 49 and 67 are also removable and interchangeable.

The baby bottle air eliminator of the present invention can be made of a suitable material such as a suitable plastic that withstands boiling for sterilization.

With the present invention practically no` air is admitted into the feeding tube at any time or position even when the bottle is empty. When the parts are properly assembled as shown in the drawings, the bottle may be filled to any desired level and placed in any position and it can be moved back and forth or twisted or elevated or lowered and the mechanism is constructed so that air will not be drawn into the nipple, and this is because the device is operated by the fluid level in the bottle and not by the position of the bottle. As long as a particular oat is above the fluid level, vacuum pressure will have a tendency to act on the pad of that particular oat above the fluid level so as to help retain the pad in closed position with respect to the port above the lluid level in order to insure that no air can enter the nipple or babys mouth. The present invention is especially suitable for use in stopping colic. When there is no milk in the bottle, the nipple can be used as a paciiier and no air will come from the nipple. The various parts can be boiled or sterilized or brushed and for example a pipe cleaner or the like can be used in facilitating the cleaning of the mechanism. The device is constructed so that a full flow of milk will be insured whether the bottle is in an upright or inverted position or the like. By permitting the milk to be fed at any position of the bottle, for all practical purposes air will be eliminated or prevented from entering the nipple so that the child or baby will not suck air from the nipple whereby since this air will not be swallowed with the milk, air colic will be prevented or minimized. Also, the present invention will eliminate the necessity of keeping the bottom of the bottle propped up since the milk can be withdrawn whether the bottle is in the position such as that shown in lFIG- URE 3 or whether it is in the position such as that shown in FIGURE 4 or any other position.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in the actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

l. In -a device of the character described, a nursing bottle including a main body portion and a neck portion, a cap arranged in threaded engagement with said neck portion, said cap including an annular side section and an end section provided with a central opening therein; a nipple including a mouth engaging portion extending through the opening in the end section of said cap, said nipple further including a circular flange having a plurality of spaced apart vent openings therein; a circular disc positioned between said neck portion and flange, a cylindrical shoulder integral with the outer central portion of said disc, there being a plurality of spaced apart apertures in said disc adjacent the outer periphery of said shoulder, an apertured base piece contiguous to said shoulder, a flap valve on the outer portion of said base piece, a tubular shank projecting inwardly from said disc and afhxed thereto, a tubular stem extending through said shank and having one end thereof engaging said base piece, a hollow feeder tube including a 1first section engaging the inner end of said stem, an a-nnular suction sealer mounted on said stem and interposed between the lirst section of said feeder tube and said shank, said feeder tube further including a second section offset from and arranged angularly with respect to said rst section, and said feeder tube further including a third section arranged angularly with respect to said second section, and a pair of spaced apart valve assemblies operatively connected to said feeder tube, each of said valve assemblies comprising a bracket axed to the third section of said feeder tube, a pin connected to each bracket, a movable float having a pair of spaced apart lingers pivotally connected to a corresponding pin, there being first and second ports in the third section of said feeder tube, and yieldable pads aixed to said float and said pads being mounted for movement into and out of opened and closed relation with respect to said ports.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the inner end of the feeder tube is closed olf and the closed olf portion having a wall surface which is arcuately shaped, and said second port being contiguous to said arcuate surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,382,200 Lacina June 21, `1921 2,061,477 Perry Nov. 17, 1936 2,655,279 Wolf Oct. 13, 1953 2,797,836 Kurkjian July 2, 1957 2,877,917 Brooks et al Mar. 17, 1959 

